Correction guide for femoral neck

ABSTRACT

A device for correcting a placement of a guide wire in a bone includes a body extending from a proximal end to a distal end; a central channel extending through the body from the proximal end to the distal end along a central axis, the central channel sized and shaped to receive a guide wire slidably therein; and a first correction channel extending through the body from the proximal end to the distal end. The first correction channel is sized and shaped to receive a guide wire therein at an angle relative to the central axis of the central axis of the central channel.

BACKGROUND

Femoral neck fractures may be fixed with implants inserted along an axisof the femoral neck so that the implant extends into the femoral head.The femoral implant may be guided along a guide wire inserted along theaxis of the femoral neck. Thus, accurate placement of the guide wire iscrucial for optimal fixation of the fracture.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device for correcting a placement ofa guide wire in a bone, comprising a body extending from a proximal endto a distal end, a central channel extending through the body from theproximal end to the distal end along a central axis, the central channelsized and shaped to receive a guide wire slidably therein, and a firstcorrection channel extending through the body from the proximal end tothe distal end, the first correction channel sized and shaped to receivea guide wire therein at an angle relative to the central axis of thecentral axis of the central channel.

The present invention also relates to a system for correcting aplacement of a guide wire in a bone, comprising a device including abody extending from a proximal end to a distal end, the body taperingfrom the proximal end to the distal end and including a central channeland a first correction channel extending therethrough from the proximalend to the distal end, a handle portion extending from the proximal endof the body at an angle relative to a longitudinal axis thereof, a firstguide wire sized and shaped to be inserted through the central channel,and a second guide wire sized and shaped to be inserted through thefirst correction channel at an angle relative to a central axis of thecentral channel.

The present invention also relates to a method for correcting a guidewire placement in a bone, comprising inserting a first guide wirethrough into a bone, imaging the bone to determine a desired correctedplacement of the first guide wire, sliding a device along the firstguide wire until a distal end thereof abuts a surface of the bone, thedevice slid along the first guide wire so that the first guide wire isreceived within a central channel of the device along a central axisthereof, and inserting a second guide wire through a correction channelof the device, the correction channel permitting insertion of the secondguide wire therein along an axis corresponding to the desired correctedplacement of the first guide wire, the axis of insertion of the secondguide wire being one of angled and parallel to the central axis.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a system according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present disclosure, in which first and second guidewires are inserted into a bone at an angle relative to one another;

FIG. 2 shows another perspective view of the system of FIG. 1, in whichfirst and second guide wires are inserted into a bone parallel to oneanother;

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a device of the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 shows a lateral side view of the device of the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 shows a longitudinal side view of the device of the system ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 6 shows another longitudinal side view of the device of the systemof FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of a system according to anotherexemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of a system according to a furtherexemplary embodiment of the system shown in FIG. 7; and

FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of a device according to an alternateembodiment of the system shown in FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present embodiments may be understood with reference to thefollowing description and the appended drawings, wherein like elementsare referred to with the same reference numerals. The presentembodiments relate to the treatment of bone fractures and, inparticular, relates to the treatment of femoral neck fractures.Exemplary embodiments describe a device for correcting an axis alongwhich a guide wire is inserted into a femoral neck. In particular, whenused for guiding femoral neck implants, guide wires should generally beinserted along a central axis of the femoral neck and into the femoralhead. In many cases, however, surgeons insert the guide wire into thefemoral head without the use of a guiding device, so that an initialplacement of the guide wire may require correction. Even with the use ofinstruments for inserting the guide wire (e.g., an angled guide),correction may be required due to, for example, variances in anatomicalstructures between patients. Although the exemplary embodiments describethe device as being used for guide wires inserted through the femoralneck, it will be understood by those of skill in the art that the devicemay be used to correct placement of guide wires inserted in any of avariety of bones. For example, the exemplary device may also be used tocorrect guide wires placed in the distal femur, proximal humerus, distalhumerus and for guide wire placement during foot surgeries. It should benoted that the terms “proximal” and “distal” as used herein, areintended to refer to a direction toward (proximal) and away from(distal) a user (e.g., surgeon) of the device.

As shown in FIGS. 1-4, a system 100 for correcting a position of a guidewire according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure,comprises a correction device 102 for correcting the placement of afirst guide wire 104 in a bone (e.g., femoral neck) by inserting asecond guide wire 106 either at an angle or parallel the first guidewire 104. The device 102 comprises a body 108 including a centralchannel 110 for receiving the first guide wire 104 and a firstcorrection channel 112 extending therethrough at an angle relative tothe central channel 110. The body 108 may additionally include a secondcorrection channel 114 extending therethrough at an angle relative tothe central channel 110 and along a side of the body 102 substantiallyopposing the first correction channel 112. Each of the first and secondcorrection channels 112, 114 is sized and shaped to receive the secondguide wire 106 so that, when the first guide wire 104 is received in thecentral channel 110, the user may insert the second guide wire 106through one of the first and second correction channels 112, 114depending on which correction channel aligns with the axis along whichit is desired to insert the second guide wire 106. A third correctionchannel 116 extends through the body 108 substantially parallel to thefirst correction channel 110 for use when the user has determined thatthe second guide wire 116 should extend parallel to the first guide wire104 but offset laterally from the first guide wire 104. The device 102additionally includes a handle portion 118 extending from the body 108to facilitate gripping of the device 102. In use, once it is determinedthat the placement of the first guide wire 104 should be corrected, thedevice 102 may be slid along the first guide wire 104 while the firstguide wire 104 is received within the central channel 110. Depending ona desired corrected position of the guide wire, the second guide wire106 is then inserted through one of the first, second and third channels112, 114, 116 and into the bone. If the second guide wire 106 is in thedesired corrected position (e.g., along a central axis of the femoralneck), the first guide wire 104 and the device 102 may be removed,leaving the second guide wire 106.

The body 108 of the device 102 extends from a proximal end 120 to adistal end 122. The central channel 110 extends through the body 108from the proximal end 120 to the distal end 122 along a central axis C.The first correction channel 112 extends through the body 108 from theproximal end 120 to the distal end 122 along a first axis A, whichextends at an angle relative to the central axis C. The first axis A andthe central axis C intersect at a point distal of the distal end 122.The second correction channel 114 extends through the body 108 from theproximal end 120 to the distal end 122 along a side of the body 108substantially opposing the first correction channel 112. The secondcorrection channel 114 extends through the body 108 along an axis B,which extends at an angle relative to the central axis C so that theaxes B and C intersect at a point distal of the distal end 122. The body108 may be marked to show the angulation of each of the first, secondand third correction channels 112, 114, 116 relative to the central axisC. In one exemplary embodiment, each of the first and second axes A andB are angled at an angle of 5° relative to the central axis C. It willbe understood by those of skill in the art, however, that the angle ofthe axes A and B relative to the central axis C may vary depending on adesired level of correction of the guide wire. In an exemplaryembodiment, the axes A and B may be angled relative to the central axisC by an angle up to 20°. It will also be understood by those of skill inthe art that the first axis A and the second axis B may have angulationsthat are different from one another.

The third correction channel 116 also extends through the body 108 fromthe proximal end 120 to the distal end 122 along a third axis D. Thethird axis D extends substantially parallel relative to the central axisC. The third axis D may be distanced from the central axis C at adistance ranging, for example, between 4.0 mm and 6.0 mm. In oneparticular embodiment, the third axis D may be distanced from thecentral axis C by a distance of 5.0 mm. It will be understood by thoseof skill in the art, however, that the distance of the axis D from thecentral axis C may vary, as desired. For example, the axis D may bedistanced from the central axis C by a distance of up to 15 mm.

Each of the central channel 110 and the first, second and thirdcorrections channels 112, 114, 116 is sized and shaped to receive aguide wire therein. In one embodiment, the channels 110-116 are sizedand shaped to receive guide wires having a diameter ranging from 2.5 mmto 3.0 mm. In a particular embodiment, the channels 110-116 are sized toreceive guide wires having a 2.8 mm diameter. As will be described ingreater detail below, the device 102 may be slid along an initiallyinserted first guide wire 104 with the first guide wire 104 receivedwithin the central channel 110. The second guide wire 106 may then beinserted into one of the first, second and third correction channels112, 114, 116 to correct an initial placement of the first guide wire104. The first and second correction channels 112, 114 extend alongopposing sides of the body 108 so that, if an angulation of the secondguide wire 106 relative to the first guide wire 104 is desired, the usermay determine a direction in which it is desired to angulate the secondguide wire 106 with respect to the first guide wire 104.

A size and shape of the body 108 may be defined via the central channel110 and the first, second and third correction channels 112, 114, 116,tapering from the proximal end 120 to the distal end 122. Thus, smallerangulations of the first and second correction channels 112, 114 willproduce a smaller taper while larger angulations will produce largertaper. A length of the body 108 may be selected so that the device 102may be inserted through tissue and into a living body so that the distalend 122 may contact the bone while the handle portion 118, which isconnected to the proximal end 120, extends outside of the body. Inaddition, a length of the channels 110-116 should be long enough toprovide precision during insertion of the guide wires along the axesA-D. In an exemplary embodiment, a length of the body 108 may range frombetween 100 and 200 mm. In a specific embodiment, the body 108 of thecorrection device 102 may have a length of approximately 142 mm.

The handle portion 118 optionally includes first and second wingedhandles 124, 126, respectively, each extending laterally from theproximal end 120 of the body 108 at an angle relative to a longitudinalaxis of the device 102. The first and second winged handles 124, 126extend from substantially opposing sides of the body 108. In oneembodiment, the first winged handle 124 extends from the side of thebody 108 including the first correction channel 112 and the secondwinged handle 126 extends from the side of the body 108 including thesecond correction channel 114. An angle of the first and second wingedhandles 124, 126 relative to the longitudinal axis of the device 102 isselected to facilitate ease of gripping of at least one of the first andsecond handles 124, 126. Thus, regardless of an orientation of thedevice 102 relative to the bone, the user will have at least one handleto grip while inserting the second guide wire 106 through one of thefirst, second and third correction channels 112, 114, 116.

According to an exemplary surgical method using the system 100, thefirst guide wire 104 is inserted along an axis of the femoral neck andinto the femoral head. The first guide wire 104 may be inserted into thefemoral head using an angled guide, which permits insertion of the firstguide wire 104 at a predetermined angle relative to a longitudinal axisof the femur. Once the first guide wire 104 has been inserted into thebone, the user may take an image scan (e.g., x-ray) of the proximalportion of the femur to determine whether a correction is required. Inmost cases, it is desirable for the guide wire to be inserted along acentral axis of the femoral neck. Thus, if it is determined from theimage scan that the first guide wire 104 is not positioned as desired(e.g., centrally and inline within the femoral neck and head), the usermay determine that correction is required. Based on the image scan, theuser may also determine a desired corrected path of the guide wire. Forexample, the user may determine whether the guide wire should beangulated in an anterior or posterior direction relative to theinitially placed first guide wire 104, or whether it is desired for theguide wire to extend parallel to the initially placed first guide wire104 but offset laterally therefrom.

The device 102 is slid along the first guide wire 104 with the firstguide wire 104 received within the central channel 110 until the distalend 122 contacts the bone. The user may rotate the device 102 about thefirst guide wire 104 until an entry point of the second guide wire 106(e.g., a distal opening of a selected one of the first, second and thirdcorrection channels 112, 114, 116 through which the second guide wire106 will be inserted) is in alignment with the desired corrected path.The user then grips one of the first and second handles 124, 126 to holdthe device 102 against the bone, in the desired orientation, whileinserting the second guide wire 106 through the selected one of thefirst, second and third correction channels 112, 114, 116, respectively.As would be understood by those skilled in the art, the user determineswhich of the first, second and third correction channels 112, 114, 116to use based on the determined desired corrected path. The second guidewire 106 is inserted into the bone via the selected correction channeland the new entry point along the desired corrected path, in alignmentwith one of the first, second and third axes A, B, D. As would beunderstood by those skilled in the art, after insertion of the secondguide wire 106, the first guide wire 104 and the device 102 may beremoved from the patient body.

If so desired, another image scan of the proximal femur may be taken toconfirm that the second guide wire is in the desired position within thebone. In the case that the second guide wire 106 also requirescorrection, the above-described process may be repeated by sliding thedevice 102 over the second guide wire 106 so that the second guide wire106 is received within the central channel 110. A third guide wire maybe inserted through one of the first, second and third correctionchannels 112, 114, 116 along a desired corrected path.

Alternatively, in some cases, the desired corrected path may have agreater angulation relative to the first guide wire 104 and/or is at agreater distance than is permitted via the device 102. For example, theaxes A and B may extend at a 5° angle relative to the axis C, while thedesired path is 10° relative to the first guide wire 104. In such cases,the above-described process may be repeated using additional guide wiresuntil a path of insertion of a guide wire substantially corresponds tothe desired corrected path.

Although the exemplary embodiment describes and shows three correctionchannels 112-116, it will be understood by those of skill in the artthat the device 102 may include additional channels to provideadditional angulation and/or distance options. Additional channels,however, may increase a size of the body 108 of the device 102.

As shown in FIG. 7, a system 200 according to another exemplaryembodiment of the present disclosure may be substantially similar to thesystem 100, comprising a device 202 for correcting an initial placementof a first guide wire 204 by permitting insertion of a second guide wire206 at an angle relative to and/or at a distance from the first guidewire 204. The device 202 may be substantially similar to the device 102.However, whereas the device 102 provides a plurality of correctionchannels 112-116, each of which are specifically sized and shaped tocorrespond to a single guide wire so that the second guide wire 106 maybe inserted into the bone only at specific, pre-determinedangles/distances relative to the first guide wire 104, the device 202includes a slotted correction channel 212 which permits insertion of aguide wire therethrough along an axis angled relative to an axis C of acentral channel 210 of the device 202, within a permitted range ofangulations.

In particular, the device 202 includes a body 208 extending from aproximal end 220 to a distal end 222, a handle portion 218 extendingfrom the proximal end 220 the body 208. The device 202 includes thecentral channel 210 extending through the body 208 from the proximal end220 to the distal end 222 for receiving the first guide wire 204. Theslotted correction channel 212 also extends through the body 208 fromthe proximal end 220 to the distal end 222. The slotted correctionchannel 212 tapers from the proximal end 220 toward the distal end 222so that a proximal opening 213 thereof is slotted (i.e., elongated) topermit insertion of the second guide wire 206 therethrough, within apermitted range of angulations.

In one example, the slotted correction channel 212 may permit insertionof the second guide wire 206 therethrough at an angle ranging frombetween −10° to 10° relative to the central axis C. It will beunderstood by those of skill in the art, however, that this permittedrange of angulation may vary, as desired. The body 208 may be markedwith the permitted range of angulations so that a user may insert thesecond guide wire 206 through the slotted correction channel 212 inalignment with a marking showing the desired angulation of the secondguide wire 206. The second guide wire 206 may be inserted into the boneat an angle relative to the first guide wire 204 (which is receivedwithin the central channel 210) or parallel to the first guide wire 204.To insert the guide wire 206 parallel to the first guide wire 204, thesecond guide wire 206 may be inserted through the slotted channel 212 inalignment with a 0° marker shown on the body 208.

Although the device 202 of the system 200 is shown and described asincluding a single slotted channel 212, it will be understood by thoseof skill in the art that a device according to the present disclosuremay include more than one slotted channel providing a predeterminedrange of angulations of a guide wire inserted therethrough. It will alsobe understood by those of skill in the art that a device according tothe present disclosure may also include a combination of at least oneslotted channel, as described above with respect to the device 202, andat least one of the correction channels described above with respect tothe device 102.

The system 200 may be used in a manner substantially similar to thedevice 100. In particular, the device 202 may be slid over an initiallyplaced first guide wire 204 such that the first guide wire 204 isreceived within the central channel 210. Based on an image scan of theproximal femur (or other portion of the bone through which the guidewire is inserted) the user may determine a desired corrected path forthe second guide wire 206. The second guide wire 206 may be insertedthrough the slotted channel 212 and into the bone along in alignmentwith a marking corresponding to the desired corrected path.

As shown in FIG. 8, a system 300 according to a further exemplaryembodiment of the present disclosure may be substantially similar to thesystem 200 described above, comprising a device 302 for correcting aninitial placement of a first guide wire 304 by permitting insertion of asecond guide wire 306 at an angle relative to and/or at a distance fromthe first guide wire 304. Similarly to the device 202, the device 302includes a central channel 310 and a slotted channel 312 extendinglongitudinally through a body 308 of the device 302 from a proximal end320 of the body 308 to a distal end 322 of the body 308. The slottedchannel 312 is substantially similar to the slotted channel 212,permitting insertion therethrough of the second guide wire 306 at adesired angle within a permitted range of angulations relative to acentral axis C of the central channel 310, in which the first guide wire304 is received. The device 302, however, further includes a slider 330movably received within the slotted channel 312. The slider 330 includesan opening extending longitudinally therethrough. The opening is sizedand shaped to receive a guide wire therethrough. The slider 330 may bemoved laterally within the slotted channel 312 so that the slider 330may be positioned in alignment with a desired angle (corresponding to adesired correction path) within the permitted range of angulations. Theslider 330 may provide a greater precision for the insertion of thesecond guide wire 306 along the desired correction path.

The slider 330 may be slidably housed within a correspondingly sized andshaped groove 334 extending laterally through the body 308 incommunication with the slotted channel 312. The groove 334 houses theslider 330 such that a portion thereof is accessible to the user so thatthe user may slide the slider 330 laterally relative to the body 308into alignment with, for example, a marking showing the desired anglewithin the permitted range of angulations. The slider 330 may includefeatures preventing the slider 330 from moving during insertion of thesecond guide wire 306. For example, the slider 330 may be friction fitwithin the groove 334 and/or include an engaging feature which permitthe slider 330 to be clicked or snapped into a desired one of aplurality of correspondingly sized and shaped engaging features of thegroove 334. The correspondingly sized and shaped engaging features ofthe groove 334 may permit the slide 330 to be fixed at the desiredposition relative to the body 308.

According to an alternate embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, rather than aslider received within a laterally extending groove, a device 302′ mayinclude a longitudinally extending slider 330′ received within a slottedchannel 312′ and pivotally coupled to a distal end 322′ of a body 308′of the device 302′. The slider 330′ includes an alignment channel 332′extending longitudinally therethrough, the alignment channel 332′ sizedand shaped to receive a guide wire therein. The slider 330′ may bepivoted into alignment with a marking showing a desired angulation(corresponding to a desired correction path) within a permitted range ofangulations relative to a central axis C of a central channel 310′ ofthe device 302′ to provide greater precision of insertion along thedesired correction path.

The devices 302, 302′ may be used in a manner substantially similarly tothe devices 102, 202 described above. In particular, the device 302 (or302′) may be slid along an initially placed first guide wire 304. Theslider 330 is moved into alignment with a desired correction path of theguide wire so that the second guide wire 306 may be guided through theopening 332 thereof and into the bone.

It will be understood by those of skill in the art that modificationsand variations may be made in the structure and methodology of thepresent invention, without departing from the spirit or the scope of theinvention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover themodifications and variations of this invention, provided that they comewithin the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A device for correcting a placement of a guidewire in a bone, comprising a body extending from a proximal end to adistal end; a central channel extending through the body from theproximal end to the distal end along a central axis, the central channelsized and shaped to receive a guide wire slidably therein; and a firstcorrection channel extending through the body from the proximal end tothe distal end, the first correction channel sized and shaped to receivea guide wire therein at an angle relative to the central axis of thecentral axis of the central channel.
 2. The device of claim 1, whereinthe first correction channel extends along a first axis that is angledrelative to the central axis, the first axis and the central axisintersecting at a point distal of the distal end of the body.
 3. Thedevice of claim 2, wherein the first axis is angled relative to thecentral axis at an angle ranging from between 5 and 10 degrees.
 4. Thedevice of claim 1, further comprising a second correction channelextending through the body from the proximal end to the distal end alonga second axis, the second correction channel extending through a side ofthe body substantially opposing the first correction channel, the secondcorrection channel sized and shaped to receive a guide wire thereinalong the second axis, the second axis being angled relative to thecentral axis and intersecting therewith distally of the distal end ofthe body.
 5. The device of claim 1, further comprising a thirdcorrection channel extending through the body from the proximal end tothe distal end along a third axis, the third correction channel sizedand shaped to receive a guide wire therein along the third axis, thethird axis extending parallel to the central axis.
 6. The device ofclaim 5, wherein the third axis is distanced from the central axis by adistance of approximately 5.0 mm.
 7. The device of claim 1, wherein thebody is defined by the central channel and the first correction channel,tapering from the proximal end toward the distal end.
 8. The device ofclaim 1, further comprising a handle portion extending from the proximalend of the body.
 9. The device of claim 8, wherein the handle portionincludes a pair of wings extending laterally from the proximal end at anangle relative to a longitudinal axis of the body, each of the pair ofwings extending from an opposite side of the body.
 10. The device ofclaim 1, wherein the first correction channel tapers from the proximalend to the distal end of the body, the first correction channelconfigured to receive a guide wire therein along a desired axis ofinsertion that is angled relative to the central axis, within apermitted range of angulations.
 11. The device of claim 10, furthercomprising a slider received within the first correction channel so thatthe slider is movable therewithin, the slider including an openingextending therethrough such that an axis of the opening may be alignedwith the desired axis of insertion of the guide wire through the firstcorrection channel.
 12. The device of claim 11, wherein the slider isreceived within a groove so that the slider is laterally movablerelative to the first correction channel.
 13. The device of claim 11,wherein the slider extends longitudinally from a proximal end to adistal end that is pivotally coupled to the distal end of the body sothat the slider may be pivoted to align with the desired axis ofinsertion.
 14. The device of claim 1, further comprising markings on thebody showing a permitted insertion angle of the guide wire through thefirst correction channel.
 15. A system for correcting a placement of aguide wire in a bone, comprising: a device including a body extendingfrom a proximal end to a distal end, the body tapering from the proximalend to the distal end and including a central channel and a firstcorrection channel extending therethrough from the proximal end to thedistal end, a handle portion extending from the proximal end of the bodyat an angle relative to a longitudinal axis thereof; a first guide wiresized and shaped to be inserted through the central channel; and asecond guide wire sized and shaped to be inserted through the firstcorrection channel at an angle relative to a central axis of the centralchannel.
 16. The system of claim 15, wherein the first correctionchannel extends along a first axis that is angled relative to thecentral axis, the first axis and the central axis intersecting at apoint distal of the distal end of the body.
 17. The system of claim 15,further comprising a second correction channel extending through thebody from the proximal end to the distal end along a second axis, thesecond correction channel extending through a side of the bodysubstantially opposing the first correction channel, the secondcorrection channel sized and shaped to receive a guide wire thereinalong the second axis, the second axis being angled relative to thecentral axis and intersecting therewith distally of the distal end ofthe body.
 18. The system of claim 15, further comprising a thirdcorrection channel extending through the body from the proximal end tothe distal end along a third axis, the third correction channel sizedand shaped to receive a guide wire therein along the third axis, thethird axis extending parallel to the central axis.
 19. The system ofclaim 15, wherein the first correction channel tapers from the proximalend to the distal end of the body, the first correction channelconfigured to receive a guide wire therein along a desired axis ofinsertion that is angled relative to the central axis, within apermitted range of angulations.
 20. The system of claim 19, furthercomprising a slider received within the first correction channel so thatthe slider is movable therewithin, the slider including an openingextending therethrough such that an axis of the opening may be alignedwith the desired axis of insertion of the guide wire through the firstcorrection channel.
 21. The system of claim 20, wherein the slider isreceived within a groove so that the slider is laterally movablerelative to the first correction channel.
 22. The system of claim 20,wherein the slider extends longitudinally from a proximal end to adistal end that is pivotally coupled to the distal end of the body sothat the slider may be pivoted to align with the desired axis ofinsertion.
 23. A method for correcting a guide wire placement in a bone,comprising: inserting a first guide wire through into a bone; imagingthe bone to determine a desired corrected placement of the first guidewire; sliding a device along the first guide wire until a distal endthereof abuts a surface of the bone, the device slid along the firstguide wire so that the first guide wire is received within a centralchannel of the device along a central axis thereof; and inserting asecond guide wire through a correction channel of the device, thecorrection channel permitting insertion of the second guide wire thereinalong an axis corresponding to the desired corrected placement of thefirst guide wire, the axis of insertion of the second guide wire beingone of angled and parallel to the central axis.
 24. The method of claim23, wherein the correction channel is one of a first channel, a secondchannel and third channel, the first channel extending through thedevice along a first axis that is angled relative to the central axis,the second channel extending through a side of the device opposite thefirst channel along a second axis that is angled relative to the centralaxis and the third channel extending the device parallel to the centralaxis.
 25. The method of claim 23, wherein the correction channel tapersfrom a proximal end to the distal end of the device so that the secondguide wire is receivable therein at a desired angle relative to thecentral axis, within a permitted range of angulations.
 26. The method ofclaim 25, further comprising moving a slider so that an opening of theslider is aligned with a desired angle of insertion of the second guidewire through the correction channel.